Is it Wrong to Live Transmigrated as Bell Cranel in a Dungeon?
Chapter 6: Supporter Part 1
"Books are a uniquely portable magic."
Stephen King
"7TH FLOOR!?" Eina yelled incredulously, not even caring we were at the front counter where everyone could hear her meltdown.
"You almost got yourself killed on the 5th Floor just the other day! What do you think you'll be able to do on the 7th?! How stupid can you be?" Eina ranted at me.
"T-the Minotaur was a freak accident and you know it," I protested, before talking in a quieter tone, "Besides, I've gotten a lot stronger since then. My basic abilities are, well, above C."
Eina began to open her mouth to loudly share her disbelief - or that's what she was probably going to do. I didn't give her the chance and preemptively leaned over the counter to cover her mouth with my hands as I hissed at her to shush!
"Maybe we should discuss this somewhere else?" I offered lowly, blushing at the looks we were now receiving.
Eina, mouth still covered and cheeks blushing in anger, scowled as she nodded an affirmative.
We quickly made our exit to Eina's office and I went ahead and showed her my Status.
"No way." Eina declared, trying to reject reality, "Aside from Magic, everything is B or greater. And your Vitality…! SS!? What the hell even is this?!"
"I regularly get beat u– I mean I train with a retired Level 4 adventurer that felt pity on me," I explain to her, "I get knocked out a lot. My points have otherwise been at this pace since the last and first time I showed you my stats, Eina-san."
"It was ridiculous back then, and is even more so now…" Eina agreed in disbelief, "And three skills?! I can't make out what they are, but I can tell they are there…"
"Let's just say one of them plays a part," I said mysteriously, "I'm sure you understand why Hestia-sama and I are playing this close to the chest?"
"Hmm, a Skill would explain it I suppose…" Eina said, starting to understand the implications, "You are right to be cautious."
"If you could keep that info to yourself, I'd really appreciate it," I asked of her, knowing I was putting her in a bit of a bind.
"Absolutely, I know it isn't easy to trust me with something this big," Eina was quick to agree.
"Not exactly," I disagreed with part of her sentiment, "You've gone above and beyond in helping me, Eina-san. And everything you've said and done was with my best interest in mind. So, believe me when I say that I trust in you, Eina-san."
There was a beat of silence where Eina didn't respond.
"Eina-san?" I asked, about to turn around to face her before her open palm stopped me like a wall.
"Give me a moment, Bell-kun…" Eina said, covering her face.
Oh. I guess my words were pretty sentimental, though they are completely true. It's actually kinda embarrassing, I can feel my cheeks heating up.
I cough into my hand, trying to change the conversation, "So! About my clearance level…"
Eina took a deep breathe that sounded like a sigh, "With stats like those, I can authorize you as far down as the 12th Floor. But you absolutely shouldn't! You still need more experience on the floors before 10! Only then will you be more prepared for the larger monsters and higher spawn rates!"
"That's why I've been going as slow as I have been," I said, agreeing with her.
"Slow…?" Eina questioned, clearly having a different definition than the one I live with now. "Anyway, there's only one thing holding you back… Bell-kun, are you free tomorrow?"
I blink, "Uh, sure. Why?"
"You're going to need some better protection for handling the deeper floors. Armor is imperative for protecting yourself and conserving strength and potions," Eina lectured me.
"I've been meaning to upgrade," I admit, "But all the places I've come across are way out of my budget or the quality was too low to mean anything."
I'm paranoid about getting scammed like my first week in the city, okay? Give me some slack. I didn't exactly have a lot of bargaining skills from Before — much less from Bell's side of things.
"Then allow me to enlighten you tomorrow," Eina said with a smile, "Meet me at Amor Square tomorrow at 8. I'll help you upgrade your kit."
"Sounds great!" I said, it would be a nice change of pace to spend time with Eina outside of her work environment. With how considerate and helpful Eina was, I really thought of her as a dear friend. Even her nagging was in good faith, even if I wasn't thrilled to have to endure it.
…
Hold on. Isn't this a…!
Nah, she probably sees me as a reckless younger sibling. And I think I'd stress her out too much if we somehow became lovers.
Tomorrow! A friendly excursion for better armor! Not a date! I swear! Believe me!
I got to the plaza a little early, as I was the type of person to get to a meeting early even when I knew that the travel time was more than necessary just in case there was an accident.
I didn't wait too long before I heard a voice call out to me.
"Hey! Bell-kun!" Eina said as she jogged over to me. She is wearing clothes I've never seen her in before. Usually she's in a perfectly pressed Guild uniform, but today she's in a cute, lacy white blouse and a short skirt and leggings.
"Good morning! Aren't you early? I didn't think you'd be that excited about shopping with me," she finished teasingly.
"Ah, no, I just…" I stammered, not expecting Eina to be the one to tease me. Usually its her co-workers that give us this kind of trouble. Damn my low defense!
"Well, I was excited, too. I know this is your shopping trip, but I'm eager to get started," Eina admitted.
"Uh, same here. Please take care of me," I said formally.
"Ahem. Anyway, Bell?" She asked slyly.
"W-what is it?" I was still trying to adapt to Eina's sudden boldness.
"What do you think? Seeing me out of uniform? Anything to say?" She asked, looking up at me with the eyes of a mischievous minx.
Thankfully, I've recovered by this point, and said, "It's cute. Definitely a different side of you I'm not used to."
Eina looked a little annoyed, "And what is that supposed to mean?"
"Ah! Don't take it the wrong way!" I quickly assure her, realizing my poor phrasing, "I just mean that you usually give off a 'cool beauty' sort of aura. More elegance than girly, if you understand what I mean?"
"Oh, I see…" Eina said, blushing. Maybe she never realized how well she pulled off her Guild uniform?
Deciding to spare Eina from any embarrassment, I go ahead and say, "Shall we head out?"
"Ah! Yes! Follow me!" Eina perked up, glad at the redirect.
Eina went ahead and led us towards Babel Tower, which rests atop the Dungeon. I heard about how shops and residences and banks and such were hosted there. However, I had been hesitant to explore much of the tower ever since I heard that Freya resided on the top floor, 50. I was concerned that, on the assumption that Freya had her eye on me, if I came alone that Freya might just get too tempted and snatch me right up. I figure with Eina there, Freya will be less likely to act so rashly as to kidnap me. It was too much of a risk in upsetting the Guild after all.
Though, honestly, even then I thought the chances of that happening were so low as to be nonexistent. But sometimes it pays to be a bit too cautious. CONSTANT VIGILANCE!
Eina filled in more details about the tower's amenities as we entered and traveled within. It definitely felt more like a field trip than a romantic outing. But that was part of Eina's charm too… not that I was trying to court her or anything!
At some point, we ran into Hestia, working at one of Hephaestus' shops in the tower. I had already pressured her before about the cost of the Hestia Knife in regards to Goddess Hephaestus, but she was insistent on it being a matter between the gods, so I relented… but I still intended on helping with it in the future – I just didn't have any concrete plan on how to actually accomplish that lofty goal.
But today, she grilled us about being on a date. I simply denied it saying that Eina was my advisor and was helping me get armor. It was a good opportunity to formally introduce them to each other.
But based on the whispering Hestia did to Eina, I get the feeling Hestia didn't believe me.
After we left Hestia, Eina finally brought me to our destination. Specifically, the section of Babel where the up and coming smiths sold their decent yet quality wares on the cheap. And particularly, a store that Eina recommended.
I went ahead and started looking around. Now that I was paying for meals at the Hostess, I couldn't exactly splurge funds. But armor was an important investment to help keep me from staying not dead. Not only would armor help protect me from getting distracted from pain/injuries in a fight, but it would also mitigate the amount of potions consumed in a single Dungeon run, thus saving some money that way over time.
I'd still keep on buying potions from the Blue Pharmacy, of course. I'd just hopefully not need to restock as often.
I could comfortably afford to drop 10,000 valis. Anything beyond 15,000 would be painful on the budget right now, however.
Eina had mentioned how up and coming blacksmith's were just waiting for an adventurer with a keen eye to spot them and help grow each other's career. So I went to the back of the store which held the armor the store was selling but not actively advertising.
Perhaps there was a diamond in the rough hiding back here. If there was something really good that would have been on display, it was probably already purchased by someone else before me.
A lot of the armor in the bins was either too stylized, too heavy for my liking, or was being blatantly overpriced. But one bin caught my eye, silver-looking pieces of armor with red slits as the only decoration. The quality was leagues better than the rest of the stuff around it – even my amateurish knowledge on blacksmithing could notice this. And the armor was light, just my style. Just because I was getting armor, didn't mean I actually wanted monsters to ever hit it.
I look for the smith's signature and have to hold back a scoff.
I would randomly happen to find Welf Crozzo's armor like this. I knew of him from my limited foreknowledge, but not where to find his armor specifically.
Though I guess since Eina brought me here, it's not much of a coincidence? I think this was something that happened in the show, but it's hard for me to remember. I don't exactly have the internet with me.
Anyway, the armor set is just 9,900 valis and it is right in my budget for today.
"Hey, Bell-kun! I found something really good! A protector and leather armor! They're a little expensive, but it would be a good idea to get at least one of…Oh? Did you find something?" Eina said as she approached me.
"I've got a good feeling about this one," I told her.
"Light armor, huh?" Eina said, as if expecting this, "Well, you are the one who will be wearing it."
"Hehe, sorry, and thanks," I said. Apologizing for picking something without even looking at her find.
We soon leave, going to a clothing store to get something to help supplement the armor. Eina managed to find some thick black clothing to go underneath that will help me blend in the darkness if I lose my armor. The thickness of the clothes also helps mitigate cuts, at least a little bit. Some matching boots, leg and waist pouches to go with and I was set.
As we were shopping, Eina mentioned how she wished I would expand the party, maybe get a supporter. I was definitely open to the idea and I took up her offer to help me scout for someone.
By the time we got back to where we met in the morning, the sky was orange from the sun setting. I gave Eina a light bow as I said, "Thanks for coming with me today, it was a big help!"
Seriously, I would have gotten lost and scammed. Eina had a sharp eye and tolerated no bullshit. And now I knew some good places in order to get new supplies without getting ripped off. Today was super productive and wouldn't have been possible without someone like Eina to help me. I was just too new to the city for stuff like this on my own.
"Oh, right," Eina said, as if remembering something, before pulling out something covered in cloth.
…Where had she hidden that?
"Bell-kun, take this," Eina said, revealing the contents to be an emerald-green vambrace - a piece of armor that goes over the wrist and extends up the arm to the elbow. It is obvious at a glance that it is really sturdy and is designed to be used as a sort of shield.
"Eina-san! You shouldn't have!" I protested as she put the item in my hands. I honestly felt bad. I don't know how good the pay is at the Guild, but it surely was still a pricey gift.
"Please accept it," Eina pleaded, "For your sake, not mine… Honestly, you never know when an adventurer is going to die… I've known lots of adventurers who never came back… I don't want that to be your fate."
Eina suddenly became sheepish, "So maybe it is for my sake after all, haha!"
"Eina-san," I called to her solemnly.
"Huh?" Eina seemed startled. Was she surprised at the serious look I was giving her now?
"I won't die and leave you alone," I promised her, "I could never look my Grandpa, or Hestia, or you in the eyes again otherwise. I'll keep on getting stronger. Strong enough to make the world heel. That's part of what it means to be a hero, to defy the odds!"
Bell's grandpa Zeus might not actually be dead. However… I had a Grandpa I loved and looked up to dearly that passed away when I was young so… I could understand Bell and thus my words were completely honest.
I may have died once before, so death didn't scare me. Not really. But I'd never forgive myself for dying before even trying to fulfill my goal. The things I knew, the power I had, I had a responsibility to use it to the fullest.
Eina looked at me in shock. I couldn't tell if she was blushing or if that was just the lighting from the setting sun. She blinked, and seemingly recovered, "Seriously… I think you mentioned wanting to be a hero in your Guild registration too. Geez, you are still on about that?"
She was trying to tease me, but I couldn't joke about this point. I didn't want to waver in my resolve, there was too much at stake.
I said, "Of course, I am. After all, with great power comes great responsibility!"
"Read that from a story too?" Eina asked, hitting the nail on the head.
I grin, "One of the best, though you wouldn't have heard of it. Set in the future and stuff."
"Well, it's certainly catchy and very you, Bell-kun," Eina said. I got the feeling she was conflicted about something, but I couldn't be sure as to what.
"Well, in any case, I humbly accept your present," I said, feeling a little sheepish.
Eina glanced away, "Y-your welcome."
She couldn't be blushing, it was just the lighting, surely!
…It wasn't a date, I swear!
BELIEVE ME!
I was heading back to the Hostess from the meeting place with Eina. I was going down into an alleyway Ryuu had told me of as a shortcut when I happened to run into someone frantically running away. A Pallum girl to be precise, considering her small build. She could have just been a child, but my intuition didn't lean that way.
Combined with the fact her strength was much less than mine, Falna or not, she ended up falling to the ground while I barely moved. Which made me feel even worse for cutting her off. "Are you okay?" I asked, concerned.
The back of the girl's head seemed familiar, but I couldn't quite place it at that moment.
The Pallum girl began to push herself off the ground, but before she could answer I turned to face the footsteps running from the same direction the girl had come from.
The man was clearly an adventurer, and judging from his speed alone he was a middling adventurer somewhere in the E to D range stat-wise… at most. But that was just a guess on my end. I just knew that his aura wasn't oppressive like Ryuu's.
The man's face was angry and aggressive and his sword was already drawn, "You're not getting away, you damned Prum!"
Whatever the Pallum girl may or may not have done, drawing a weapon was going too far. So this guy was an asshole at best or a potential murderer at worst. This was what my brain concluded after putting the dots together.
So I didn't hesitate to put myself between him and the girl. In a single move I also drew and blocked the adventurer with the Hestia Knife, hieroglyphs glowing for but a moment.
I effortlessly held back the adventurer's strength, a feat which seemed to shock my opponent. After a moment of pushing against each other, his grip slacked and he pulled back.
"Who the hell are you?" the adventurer demanded as he sheathed his weapon, "You working with her?"
"Uh, no," I said, talking to him like he was an idiot, "Never seen her before in my life."
"Then why protect her?" he asked darkly, clearly pissed off.
"Common sense usually says the asshole with the sword chasing the girl is up to no good," I told him bluntly, "And reason number two, is 'cause she's a girl."
"Huh?!" this dude wasn't bright. He put away his weapon just a second ago because he realized the power difference between us. But one insult later and he's already drawing it again, "What are you saying you, goddamned brat?"
I was about to tell him to piss off before contacting the nearest Ganesha Familia member - as they are basically the closest thing to police around here. But before I could I was interrupted by Ryuu who was coming through the same shortcut route I was.
"Stop it," Ryuu said with authority, freezing both of us in place with her presence, "You shouldn't be clashing blades in the middle of the city."
The adventurer growled in annoyance, probably regaining some of his composure on the assumption Ryuu's aura was just a fluke, "Stay out of this. Get lost you–"
"Silence." Ryuu said, her mere presence was enough to freeze the bastard in place. Ryuu then said, "Don't make me get violent. I always end up going too far."
The adventurer looked away, finally realizing that he was outmatched in this situation. He turned away, heading back the way he came, "Damn it…" he muttered before leaving earshot.
I released a breath as I relaxed my stance, "Thank you, Ryuu-san. I wasn't looking forward to a night chatting with the Ganesha Familia."
"Then I will not apologize for interfering," Ryuu replied.
I looked to address the Pallum girl only to find her gone, "Oh, she's gone," I said out loud, "I guess she got scared and ran."
"A girl?" Ryuu asked as we started walking together to the Hostess.
"Ran right into me as I entered the alley," I explained, "That lovely individual was chasing her with a sword drawn. I had to step in."
"...Reckless," Ryuu chided after a moment of silence, "Just wait until I tell Syr that you almost got into another fight while standing up for another girl."
"Please don't," I pleaded jokingly, "And besides, the girl actually needed help this time unlike a certain someone."
"I reiterate that your insistence was vital as a distraction so I could handle those ruffians more effectively," Ryuu instantly retorted.
I countered, with a teasing smile, "Oh? But I wasn't talking about you though?"
Ryuu looked startled for a moment, she might have slightly blushed but that could have just been the lighting. Then her eyes narrowed, "You lie, if you had gotten into another fight to save a girl I would have noticed and you would have shared the story casually without prompting."
"I know how to save guys in trouble too, you don't have to specify girls," I point out, once again playing the straight-man in this comedy skit. "And you make me sound like a braggart."
"That is not my intention," Ryuu admitted, "You are simply too honest to not share when prompted."
"I'm only so honest because I trust you guys," I reply. A reply which seems to stun Ryuu in place, so I stop with her.
"As far as I know, any healthy relationship requires a few basic attributes, but one of the most important is honesty. Because if we aren't honest with each other, how can we trust each other? We're only mortals, it's hard to understand one another, but trust makes it really easy, I think."
"..." Ryuu seemed to be pondering some really deep thoughts. Her eyes seemed uncertain and dark.
I decided to try and lift the mood, "And besides, I've been working with you and the girls for a month now? You've been bea– training me for just as long? You can't work with someone for that long in a place like the Hostess without learning to trust in each other, right?"
Ryuu looked at me for a moment before smiling, "Yes, you are exactly right, Cranel."
It was my turn to be shocked, as Ryuu always addressed me as 'Cranel-san'. To drop the 'san' is about as casual as an elf can get without falling in love or something. Or, at least, that is the impression I have of elven culture. She must really be out of it right now. Maybe it was a long day for her?
I ignore the butterflies swirling around in my stomach.
Ryuu tilted her head, probably surprised at my perplexed expression, "Hmm?"
"O-oh, nothing," I said, "Shall we get back before Mama Mia gets mad?"
"Hmm, of course," Ryuu responded simply and we continued on our way.
I thought to myself how I was partially a hypocrite. I made a big talk about honesty, but never had any intention on talking about my other life and my foreknowledge of this setting.
I had my reasons. My previous life was over and done with; the past should stay in the past. Also, it was a pretty outlandish claim; anyone who heard it would think I was just going crazy from too many trips to the Dungeon. It was just too crazy to be considered the truth. And since I didn't even know the full truth as to my situation, I couldn't even guarantee what I tried to share would be true to begin with. And lastly, without confirmation, all of the limited foreknowledge I did have was pretty useless.
Those were the reasons I gave myself as I walked side by side with Ryuu.
Ryuu did end up tattling on me to Syr. I was mercilessly teased whenever Mama Mia wasn't yelling at Syr to get back to work. I played along, but on the inside I was having the time of my life. The girls of the Hostess truly were like a second (or third?) family.
As we finished closing up the Hostess for the night, and girls started trickling towards the dorms, I spotted Chloe Rollo - a cat person.
For all intents and purposes, she looked like your average retired adventurer. But her aura when dealing with unruly customers' was similar to that of Ryuu's. In fact, I believe all of the staff except for Mama Mia, May, and Syr were Level 4 – with Mia Grand being a Level 6 and former Captain for the Freya Familia.
Point is, if not for fanfics I had read, I wouldn't have known that Chloe had specialized in assassination. Not that I was afraid of her or anything – aside from my chastity that is. Still, it did give me an idea for how to start dealing with the Lili situation.
"Hey, Chloe!" I got her attention as I walked over, "You have tomorrow off, right?"
"Hm? Sure do," Chloe answered, "Why? What's up?"
Chloe then gasped, "Are you finally offering yourself up to me?!"
"No," I deadpan to which she dramatically moaned her displeasure.
"Why?!" She questioned the heavens.
I decide to ignore her antics and instead ask, "Could I get you to help me out with something tomorrow? I'd hate to be a bother, but I could use an extra set of eyes."
Chloe got a bit serious as she said, "Extra eyes, huh? Why don't you tell me what's going on in that head of yours?"
I start to explain the situation, "I got into something of a tussle before work. It was only from Ryuu's intervention that nothing escalated."
"And you want me to watch your back in case he jumps you?" Chloe asked for clarification, "I'm retired from adventuring, you know. It's not exactly my–"
"I don't mean for you to follow me into the Dungeon," I cut her off to clarify, "Just to and from Babel. Actually, it's not really me I want you to keep an eye on."
That got Chloe's attention, "Not you?"
"Well," I explain, "The fellow I got into a fight with was chasing after a Pallum girl. And I wouldn't be surprised if she seeks me out for protection since I already went out of my way to help her before. But…"
"You're concerned she's involved in some shady stuff?" Chloe deduced.
"My intuition says she's a good person," I try to defend Lili's honor, "but yes. So I'd appreciate it if you could investigate a little bit."
Chloe hummed, then said, "Alright, you've got my interest. But what's in it for me?"
"Not going to help out your fellow Hostess girl for free, huh," I said jokingly, completely unsurprised that Chloe wanted something in exchange for her services.
"You make me sound like such a bad girl when you phrase it that way," Chloe mock-grimaced.
"Good, that was intentional," I said with a grin, unable to help but enjoy the banter.
Chloe crossed her arms and pouted – humming like she was deep in thought. Then she said, "...Let me grope your butt and rub your belly for an hour and you've got a deal."
"Five minutes," I instantly retorted, beginning the negotiations.
"Nowhere near enough!" Chloe retorts, "Fifty minutes!"
"Any longer than 7 seconds and Syr will murder you," I point out to her.
Chloe clicked her teeth, "Tsk, you're not wrong… Fine! Five minutes! But I get to make up time if we're interrupted!"
"If Syr doesn't kill you, sure," I agree, determining this was the best deal I was going to get.
After all, Syr will probably interrupt Chloe after 1 second so this is essentially the same as whenever Chloe tries to grope me without consent. So I'd consider this a win – though I did forfeit the right to claim I hadn't agreed to it… Who knew that being a hero would involve such tough choices?
In any case, all that was left was for Lili to approach me. I wasn't lying to Chloe when I had a feeling that Lili was going to seek me out. And even if she didn't, it was at least insurance that the adventurer who attacked Lili wouldn't get revenge on me tomorrow. So it wouldn't be a waste of time no matter the outcome.
With that taken care of, Chloe and I returned to our respective rooms in the dorms. I went to sleep with high hopes of seeing Lili once again – no matter the emotions I would find in her eyes.
Sure enough, when I was nearing Babel Tower to enter the Dungeon for the day, I was suddenly called out by an unknown yet vaguely familiar female voice, "Mister, mister! You there, with the white hair!"
I stopped and looked around, but didn't find who called out to me right away. It took me a second after seeing a comically large backpack to look down. Wearing the backpack was a Pallum girl with brown hair and eyes.
She immediately felt off to me. Her facial expression and tone were casual and friendly, but her eyes were dark. I couldn't recognize all the emotions in her eyes, but loneliness was one of them. The others, however, I could tell were very… aggressive.
If I hadn't been looking her in the eye, I would have missed it. You would think that would mean that everyone could see the anger in Lili's eyes. But I think this just proved that no one bothered to look her in the eyes – never bothered to treat her 'humanely'. Why else would she not know to hide the emotions swirling in her chestnut eyes.
"Hello, mister!" Lili greeted me, she hadn't introduced herself yet but I long since knew who she was at this point, "Sorry to bother you, but are you looking for a supporter?"
"Oh, it's you," I said, recognizing her from yesterday, playing along with being ignorant about her. I also wondered how she was going to play things from here.
"Did I confuse you?" Lili asked innocently, "The explanation is actually quite simple. A poor supporter who wishes to pick through the leftovers of an adventurer is offering you her services!"
Okay, so she's trying to evade as her first play. Also that explanation was really depressing and self-deprecating. Were supporters really so mistreated that Lili had to behave this way? Or was it just her Familia?
Well too bad, Lili, I'm going to press the matter. "No, I understand that part," I tell her, "You're the Pallum girl from yesterday, are you not?"
"Pallum?" Lili said in (mock) confusion, she took down the hood of her cloak to show off her ears. "I'm an animal person. A clienthrope."
An illusion? If so this would be easy to prove Lili is fibbing. So I reached out and idly petted her ears and surprisingly found them to be real. Maybe a transformation spell or Skill? I feel like Lili had something like that, now that I see it in front of my face.
In any case, I couldn't prove her wrong otherwise and didn't particularly have any problem playing along with her.
"It's true," I say, apparently believing Lili's story, "You're not a Pallum."
Lili, the excellent actor she is, manages to blush at my ministrations and squeaks, "Mister…!"
Hmm? Maybe her transformation is more than just superficially changing appearance but actually changing her body. So things like touching her ears would still be sensitive like an actual clienthrope. Ah, how embarrassing!
"S-sorry!" I said, genuinely embarrassed at having done the equivalent of groping her in public, "I-I guess I was mistaken. How about we discuss your offer by that fountain?"
"...Sure," Lili responded meekly and we both went over to sit by the nearby water fountain.
"I'm Bell Cranel," I introduced myself as we sat, "What should I call you?"
"...this one is named Lilliluka, you can just call me 'Lili'," Lili introduced herself as.
"So, why did you pick me, Lili?" I ask, "I've assumed that I'd be an unappealing party member since I'm a rookie and solo adventurer."
"Well, Lili picked you because it looked like you were alone," Lili began to explain, "Lili had a feeling you were, since it's rare to see an adventurer with a backpack."
"But wouldn't partying with a lone adventurer be risky?" I ask her, wanting to see what she would say and potentially get an honest opinion.
"Risk is inherent in this line of work," Lili answered, "Most supporters might not be willing to take that kind of risk, that is true, but it is not always the case."
"Some are willing to take those odds, like you, is what you are trying to say huh…" I summarized verbally. To which she nodded affirmatively.
That was highly likely to actually be the case. It just had the added bonus of also being a factor that would help get Lili hired. The implication being that I might not be able to find a supporter willing to party with me, but here was one who happened to be right in front of me.
"So Bell-sama, how about it?" Lili asked me, "Do you need a supporter?"
"I had been thinking that I'd like to have one," I admit.
"Really?" Lili asked animatedly, "Then, would you hire Lili, Bell-sama?"
Lili then suddenly had a pitiful expression, "Lili is dirt poor. Lili doesn't know if Lili's got enough to get by right now. And to think a man would touch my precious things like that… You'll take responsibility, won't you." she emphasized her ears by patting them once.
And wow, Lili was quite the master of social engineering. She used my one-off comment about defending her because she was a girl as a line of attack; by using a combination of appealing to her dire financial situation and how she was inappropriately touched by a man in order to get me to agree to her job proposition as a way of 'protecting her'. It was impressively devious.
If I wasn't already trying to look out for it from her and didn't have prior experience with social engineering techniques, then I'd have been completely fooled by Lili's acting.
…Still, the poor thing. She casually refers to adventurers with the suffix 'sama' which is the equivalent of calling them a higher social class or adding the word 'master' to their names. She's had to wear so many masks just to survive. I wonder if she'd have an identity crisis if her situation let her have more personal time on her hands; if she wasn't too busy trying to survive.
"Bell-sama?" Lili got my attention, sounding confused and alarmed.
Ah, I think my compassion and pity was leaking onto my face. I quickly smile and say, "S-sorry, my mind went elsewhere for a moment. I'm terribly sorry for touching you like that before. I'd love to hire you. Let's have today be a test run before drawing up a more long term arrangement. Is that okay?"
"Of course, thank you very much!" Lili responded positively.
With that out of the way, we soon enough made our way into the Dungeon proper.
Along the way into the Dungeon, I got Lili to give some more details. She explained she was part of the Soma Famila, and that she wasn't partying with them since she wasn't well liked and treated badly by the other members. She assured me that Soma would have no problem with her partying outside of the Familia and the only issue could be from my side - which there wasn't.
Before I knew it, I was dodging, weaving, slicing, and punting Killer Ants and Purple Moths on the 7th Floor. The former for dodging attacks and the latter for killing them.
Purple Moths could fly, but the height in the Dungeon Floor we were on rarely gave them the space to take advantage of their wings. And they were too slow to run away from me. The only problem was the poisonous fumes they gave off.
However, even without the Abnormal Resistance Development Ability, I quickly seemed to have become immune to their toxins. I actually don't remember even getting ill once from them.
Were… were those horrible lunches Syr made for me everyday giving me poison resistance?! That might explain why I couldn't taste anything she made anymore. Liaris Freese can be really scary sometimes…
Moving on.
While the Hestia Knife could very easily cut through the tough exoskeletons of Killer Ants, I wasn't going to risk the blade getting caught in their armor - leaving me stuck and vulnerable - by attacking willy nilly. So I made sure to aim for decapitating them via their slim necks. Killer Ants' jaws, however, were long and sharp like short swords, making this a tricky endeavor if I wasn't careful.
My speed, conversely, was usually enough to avoid and get around their attacks. And when that wasn't viable, a well placed kick did wonders for exposing their necks to an easy slice from my OP dagger.
Thankfully I have only faced them in small numbers, as even with my stats they would be dangerous in great numbers. These monsters could potentially call for backup, but it had yet to get to an amount that was out of hand.
I finished off the last Ant of the day by kicking its head so hard that its neck snapped and partially pulled out its insides - as it was trying to spawn from the Dungeon walls to boot.
"Bell-sama, you're so strong," Lili congratulated with a brief clap.
I took a breath before saying, "With you here, I can focus on fighting and watching out for incoming enemies. Getting interrupted while picking up stones was rather upsetting. I'm glad to have you! You're amazing!"
I hoped a little praise might slowly help her with that inferiority complex she may or may not have. And a compliment never hurt, especially since I meant it. It really was significantly more convenient and safe for everyone.
"No, you're much more amazing," Lili insisted, her mask or complex on display, "considering you defeated all these monsters by yourself!"
She paused a second, as if considering her words, "Although, I'm sure that's partly thanks to your weapon."
I knew it. There was no other reason for Lili to seek me out. She noticed the quality of the Hestia Knife. I couldn't think of another reason for a then stranger to seek me out when I was still basically an unknown to the city. The quality of the Hestia Knife was pretty apparent as soon as it was pulled from its sheath.
I was really thankful for having talked with Chloe earlier today. It would make my own little scheme a lot more safe to pull off. I'd rather not lose the Hestia Knife, after all, but I'd like to see what she's going to try and do. I need to confirm that what I know about Lili is still accurate.
How am I supposed to save Lili if I don't understand her?
"You might be right," I said before sheathing it, "I do rely on it a lot."
"Bell-sama, where did you get that knife?" Lili asked.
A bold question, but for Lili I didn't mind spilling a little detail, "The goddess of my familia gave it to me at great expense. Though she won't spare me the details."
"I see," Lili said lowly, almost revealing her envy to me, before gesturing to the Ant in the wall, "Anyway, could you grab the magic stone from that one? I don't think it's too deep. I'll grab the ones on the ground."
Not an unreasonable request. With how short Lili was, she couldn't even reach the Ant's jaws let alone get to the monster's stone. Truly Lili was really good at manipulation to use a natural event like this to her advantage. It was honestly impressive, Lili was pretty savvy.
Lili passed me a knife meant for this sort of careful extraction, "After that, let's call it a day."
"Sure," I said, turning my back to Lili before carefully cutting at the Ant's neck. Lili's knife could use a sharpening, as it was hard to dig into the monster without moving a lot. Which was probably her intent, as by the time I finished getting the magic stone, I couldn't tell if she pickpocketed me or not.
We soon began our trek back to the surface. I initially wondered what Lili would do if we got ambushed by monsters, before Lili had an unprompted solution. Wary of having been poisoned by the Purple Moths – because she was not as resistant as I was to their poison and we were out of antidotes – she had us trail behind other parties so that we could quickly ascend the floors without any monster encounters. Again, she is a clever girl.
We parted ways outside Babel Tower. I gave Lili all the stones we made today as my payment for her services and as hush money for touching her ears. Though I did honestly hope she was able to use it to make sure she had a nice place to rest for the night if she didn't already.
I headed on my way to the Guild building, but as soon as I was confident that Lili was no longer nearby, I checked to see if the Hestia Knife was gone. Sure enough, it was. I wouldn't lie and say this didn't make me anxious. It was unbelievably expensive after all.
But I tried to calm myself with the knowledge that Chloe was keeping an eye on Lili. Chloe was a Level 4 adventurer, after all. Even if something did go wrong, I was confident that I would easily be able to get the Hestia Knife back in my possession.
Since it wouldn't respond to anyone without Hestia's Falna, damn near every seller who might end up with it would sell it for almost nothing to get it off of their hands.
Despite all my safeguards, I still debated trying to head after Lili immediately, but I also wanted to try and get Eina to look into the Soma Familia's situation for me. I didn't know much aside from the God Soma being obsessed with making his wine, so more information would be welcome.
It would also serve as Eina being a witness to the fact my knife had been nabbed. Not that I wanted to get Lili arrested or anything, but I figured that Eina would be even more diligent if she had significant reason to suspect that something wrong was afoot.
Because there was. If what Lili said about her treatment was true - and her eyes filled with hate certainly supported that - then the Soma Familia was trouble that would need to be dealt with. Either by the Guild or myself when I get the strength to oppose them.
Bastards like that shouldn't be able to operate in the light of the sun.
With that resolve in my heart of hearts, I made my way westward towards the Guild Offices.
When I got to Eina, I described how I temporarily recruited a supporter from another Familia. Eina wasn't exactly thrilled but neither did she disagree with the choice.
"Aah, another Familia's supporter…" Eina had sighed.
"So, this wasn't a good idea after all?" I asked, wanting to hear her opinion.
Eina then addressed my concerns, as I didn't just want to take Lili's words on their own just yet, "I know you are concerned about a problem between Familias, but there have been plenty of cases of both sides benefiting from a healthy and respectable contract… Bell, what do you think of this girl, Lilliluka?"
"Well, she's a good girl… and her skills as a supporter are very high," I said honestly. Lili was clearly experienced and knowledgeable about the Dungeon. And while I knew she was trying to scam me, I knew(hoped) it was because she was in a bad situation and not just because she was greedy. She was desperate, not a bad person.
"Do you know what Familia she belongs to?" Eina asked me.
"She said she's a member of Soma Familia," I clarified.
"Soma Familia, huh… I can't strongly support or oppose that one," Eina said, knowing of their reputation.
"Um, Eina-san, what kind of Familia are they?" I asked, again wanting her opinion. I didn't exactly have a lot of detailed information to work with in this regard. I'd heard of their reputation while working in the Hostess, but in this regard I'd rather hear something official from Eina.
She said, "Wait a moment," as she pulled out a large file from the desk that was already prepared and opened it in front of her. She pulled out a pair of glasses out of her pocket and with a quick flick of the wrist and a light click, she slid them over her eyes in one fluid motion.
"Looks like Soma Familia is your model dungeon-prowling Familia. They are a little different from other Familias in that they also dabble in the retail industry."
"Retail? What are they selling?" I ask, remembering that they had some kind of obsession with alcohol.
"They sell wine," Eina answered.
"Wine…" I said slowly, that sounded familiar indeed.
"Yes. They don't supply very much product to stores and marketplaces, but I hear the taste is extraordinary. Apparently there is a very high demand in Orario," Eina lectured.
"That Familia is in the middle of the pack in terms of strength. No one stands out above the rest, but everyone has above average power. Whoa…They have quite a few members, too. I had no idea."
"So if they have a lot of members, then that means…" I asked a leading question.
"Their god, Soma, has a good following. I haven't heard anything good or bad about that god at all, though…"
"Lili told me that the god Soma doesn't interact with any other gods or goddesses, is that true?"
"I would actually say he is rather famous for that," Eina responded, "It feels strange to say that a god stays apart from this world, but that really is him. He's never attended one of the other gods' Celebrations, nor has he responded to social calls. It's a challenge finding someone who has even seen him. There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with the Familia itself… just."
"Just?" I prodded.
Eina furrows her brow like she's deep in thought, but makes up her mind and starts talking, "This is just my opinion, but the members of Soma Familia seem different from members of other Familias. Fighting among one another, almost like they're frantic…"
"I'll keep that in mind, thank you Eina-san," I thanked her.
"No problem, Bell-kun," Eina said to me, "For now, I will give my support in hiring that girl as a supporter."
"Are you sure?" Didn't she just describe their Familia as super sketchy?
"Yes. Surely there are a few questionable things about Soma Familia, but I think the problems between Familia members that you've been worried about won't happen. I'm basing that on Soma himself," Eina declared. I guess she was placing faith that Lili was an outlier in regards to the Soma Familia's behavior.
"I see," I replied simply.
"As long as you are careful around other members, you should be fine. And personally, I'd prefer that you form a party with a supporter rather than going solo, so I'd encourage you to hire her," Eina began nagging me, "After that, it's up to you. You'll have to take responsibility for whatever you decide. One more thing. I looked around to see if I could find a free supporter for you, but I couldn't find anyone. I knew of a few, but all of them entered a Familia very recently. I'm sorry about that."
I wasn't too surprised about that for reasons I've already gone over. But this also seemed to be another reason for why Eina was alright with my hiring of Lili – she couldn't find anyone for me and so someone was better than noone in her eyes.
"Eina-san, do adventurers look down on supporters?" I asked instead, again prodding about the culture of Orario.
"…In a way, yes," Eina answered truthfully, her tone clearly not agreeing with the state of things, "Full-time supporters are not very highly respected. I'm sure you can figure out the reason why…"
We just carry the bags. Lili's voice rang through my head.
"Normally, adventurers who aren't powerful become supporters. Most Familias delegate their weaker members to the role of supporter, even if they level up," Eina described.
Eina continued, "It's not like everyone who receives Falna will keep getting stronger without a limit. It depends on what that person is made of, if they can stand in front of a monster and not crumble under the pressure. In fact, it's quite common that an adventurer who can slay weaker monsters all day can't lay a finger on anything after that."
…The image of a Minotaur standing over my body flashed in my eyes before vanishing as a spot on my back burned.
"The fact is that these weaker adventurers become support specialists… So, yes, they're an easy target for discrimination," Eina finished her description of reality.
"Thank you again, Eina-san. I will think hard about this," I tell her, having already made up my mind to help Lili.
"It's no problem. You can see me anytime, so when you have something like this on your mind, come and talk with me. Okay?" She gives me a nice smile. I bow one more time in thanks.
I go ahead and lightly turn to face the door.
"Um…Bell-kun?" Eina called out to me.
"Yes, what is it?" Here it comes…
"What happened to your knife?" She asked worriedly.
I proceeded to make a show of frantically looking for my knife, before saying, "...I gotta go!"
I bolted out of the Guild building, ignoring Eina behind me as I began my hunt. I had a pretty good idea which places Lili was going to go and pawn the knife off on, so it would be a simple matter to track her down. A lot of blacksmiths were on the opposite side of the city, so that's where I would go. I trusted Chloe to keep an eye on Lili and thus my knife, but I still prefered to run into her before Chloe decided to act on her own.
I didn't need to worry in the end. I hadn't even gotten to Babel where I was about to cut into an alleyway when Lili barreled into me.
"Ack!" I instinctively yelped in pain, not that I actually felt any. "Lili?!
Lili's hood had fallen off, clearly showing her 'animal ears', "B-bell-sama…"
A moment later, Ryuu carrying a bag of groceries came through the alleyway into the street with us. She noticed Lili's ears, "A chienthrope?"
Syr followed Ryuu a moment after that.
"Ryuu and Syr-chan!" I acknowledged their presence, and more importantly, revealed to Lili I was acquainted with them.
"Ah!" I make a show of looking pathetic and desperate, "Have either of you seen a knife that's all black from top to bottom?! The knife is completely black–"
"You mean this?" Ryuu asked, showing me the Hestia Knife in her hand.
"My knife…" I use all of my acting skills to bring tears to my eyes and grasp around the knife which still has Ryuu's hand around it.
"Thank you!" I said joyfully, idly hearing Syr gasp (in jealousy?), "Thank you so much!"
"Cranel," Ryuu said, looking away bashfully, "Um… er… you should be doing this with Syr, not me."
Oh right, hand holding with elves is a no-no.
Syr was immediately embarrassed, "Ryuu, what are you saying!?" Ah yes, classic Syr. High attack stats but no defense. Even after confessing to me, she's embarrassed when others point out her feelings for me. I'd probably react the same way though.
I quickly let go of Ryuu's hand and apologized to her, to which Ryuu was merciful to me… for now.
"Here you are then," Ryuu said as she passed the knife back to me, which glowed for a moment as I took it back.
"I'm so glad!" I say dramatically, "I'm sorry, Hestia-sama! I'll never drop it again!"
"Drop it?" Ryuu asked pointedly. Lili looked away shamefully.
"Yeah, where did you find it?" I asked Ryuu, playing dumb.
"I didn't find it, per say," Ryuu said slowly, "A Pallum had it."
"A Pallum, huh…" I said, still playing dumb. I deserve an Oscar.
"Well, we shall be going then," Ryuu said with a knowing look. I guess Ryuu is too perceptive to believe that I didn't notice considering the lack of surprise in my eyes or something.
"Give me a minute and I can escort you fair ladies back to the Hostess?" I offer.
Syr blushed, "Oh, trying to nab both of us at the same time? Bell-kun you pervert."
"I will never be ashamed for protecting beautiful women!" I declare boldly.
"E-eh?" Syr blushed, her defenses crippled by my attack. Ryuu might have blushed lightly, but it was likely once again just the lighting of the setting sun.
"W-we shall wait for you ahead then," Ryuu said. Before the two left, Syr seemed to whisper something into Lili's ear that made her jump up in surprise. Either Syr was teasing Lili or calling her out for nabbing my knife, who is to say.
"Well this is some good timing," I tell Lili, "I was actually going to look for you. Lili, would you go into the Dungeon with me tomorrow?"
"...If you don't mind having me," Lili responded after a moment, as if in shock she got the job. Even now when she is clearly in shock, she still can't put down the mask.
I smile, trying to hide the anger I felt for Lili's situation, "Then I'll be seeing you tomorrow, Lili! Will you be able to get to your inn safely?"
"Ah, yes, Lili is also able to safely navigate the surface as well, Bell-sama. Do not worry about me," Lili assured me.
"Ah, good," I said, "I'd love to escort you safely, but I have to go the same way as them so, sorry about that."
"No, even this is too much for Lili, thank you for your concern."
"...All right then. Stay safe, Lili. I'd hate it if something bad happened to you!"
"...You as well, Bell-sama," Lili said hesitantly before departing.
With that out of the way, I quickly rejoined the girls and began walking them back to the Hostess. During the walk, Ryuu walked closer to me and started to whisper, "What was all of that about?"
"What do you mean?" I ask back quietly, but without sounding confused by her question.
Ryuu's eyes narrowed in the corner of my eyes, "You know."
"Yes," I said simply, not denying that I knew that Lili took my knife.
"Why?" Ryuu asked.
"I needed to verify something," I answered.
"Verify?" she asked.
"How desperate she was," I answered, "I can tell, she's a good person in a bad situation. I needed to understand how bad it was."
Ryuu seemed to disapprove of my plan or actions, take your pick, "Naive."
"No choice," I retort, "I don't want to become the kind of person who only looks through others and not at them."
"!" Ryuu seemed surprised by my words, before understanding something, "I see. I trust then you know what you're doing."
"Thanks," I whisper, trying to convey how much Ryuu's faith meant to me.
Ryuu looked away, unable to meet my gaze?
Feeling eyes on me, I turned and found Syr looking at us. Syr seemed to be conflicted about something, but not enough to speak up or hold her expression for more than a moment. But there were so many things Freya could have been feeling about my interaction with her best friend that I couldn't begin to deduce what it was.
Nothing much else happened after that. Other than leaving the girls to take a back route to the Hostess; had to maintain the disguise that Bell and Belko were two different people after all!
Honestly. I'm a little surprised I've managed to keep it going this long. How long can I keep this going?
After working the evening shift, I went back to my room to find Chloe waiting inside for me. I tried not to think about how a girl was nonchalantly in my room. Especially a known groper at that.
"Yo," I greeted her with a wave.
"That's quite the character you've attracted, Belko-chan," Chloe commented to me.
"I'm going to take that as a good thing," I reply, purposefully choosing a more optimistic viewpoint.
Chloe sighed, then began her 'report', "Liliruca Arde. Age 15. Level 1 from the Soma Familia. She was harassed by her Familia for everything you gave her today. Frankly, I get the impression she wants to leave the Familia but can't pay up."
"Is it standard practice to pay money to leave a Familia?" I ask her.
She shrugged, "Depends. More benevolent gods wouldn't if it meant the best for their children. But more practical Familia's do so, as a way for compensating the Familia for lost profits from the adventurer leaving."
"So most Familia's probably do it, all but treating their children more like assets than people," I deduce.
"Wow, that was a surprisingly realistic take, Miss Heroine," Chloe said with wide eyes. I swear her eyes lit up with respect or something similar. I guess she approved of something I said.
"You're hilarious," I deadpan at her teasing for my crossdressing, "I'm just aware that most adventurers seem to be more concerned about coin than anything else. Not that there is anything wrong with wanting to be compensated for hard work, but it sure seems to go too far sometimes."
"Maybe," Chloe seemed to agree with me on some level, but not enough to argue or do something about it. She then said, "Arde tried to pawn off your weapon, at the same place she seems to be sleeping at oddly enough. But I guess she couldn't get a good price because she had left with it. Just in time for Ryuu and Syr to stumble on her."
I was a little confused, "What was Lili doing on the west side of town?"
Chloe shrugged, "She was really pissed. I think she just didn't realize how far she had gone before she ran into the girls."
"I see."
Chloe then said, "Arde went through a ton of back alleys as she started making her way towards the place she seems to be crashing at. That's when the fellows I mentioned from her Familia roughed her up for her day's earnings. Frankly, they had gotten lucky in running into her. I bet she avoids them more often than not."
"But she's no match for you," I said with a grin.
"Naturally," Chloe said with a pleased smile, appreciating the compliment.
"In any case, thank you so much for your help today, Chloe," I thank my coworker and dare I say friend. "Though I'd appreciate it if you kept this all between us, if you don't mind."
"Sure, it's not anyone else's business," Chloe agreed with a shrug before smirking lewdly, "Now… as per our agreement…"
I shivered at Chloe's perverse gaze.
I need an adult!
At that moment, the door slammed open with a bang! I felt my face pale as I felt a malevolent aura behind me. Chloe was frozen in terror as she looked over my shoulder.
I slowly turned my head around. Standing in the doorway was Syr. Her eyes were closed as she smiled far too widely. The air was heavy in the wake of her rage.
"There you are Chloe-san!" Syr said, her voice high like one would expect from a Yandere or something.
"H-Hi, S-Syr-chan," Chloe stammered.
"I heard you wanted to taste-test a new dish of mine!" Syr said cheerfully, "I want to make sure Bell-kun will like it before I make it for his lunch tomorrow!"
A glance at Chloe, and I could see her face pale and green nauseous at the same time. Her face was in shock and disbelief at the horrible fate that was awaiting her.
Her eyes then snapped onto mine. They all but screamed 'SAVE ME!'
Curses, even now I can't help but save my own groper. Still…
"Deal's off…" I whisper to her.
Chloe frantically nodded in agreement.
With that verbal agreement reached, I turned to Syr with a smile. "Ah~ That's so sweet of you, Syr-chan! I didn't realize you went so far out of your way when you make my lunches everyday!"
I then walked over to her, and gently took the plate of food that was giving off a purple mist, and said, "But I don't want you to share your… unique cooking with anyone besides me. Am I… too selfish?"
Syr blushed madly, putting her hands to her cheeks as her eyes swirled, "Ah… ah… okay…"
"T-thank you," I said, regretting what I was about to do. I quickly checked behind me, and found that Chloe had already ran off by escaping through the window. With nothing to hold off the inevitable, I had to follow through and eat the 'meal' that Syr made for 'me'.
I took a bite of the purple sludge… and everything turned black.
Thankfully, I didn't die from Syr's cooking. Though the poor girl was horrified at the state she put me in and resolved to make something even better next time. At least I know I won't ever need the Abnormal Resistance Development Ability if Syr keeps up with producing more and more toxic dishes like this.
The next day, I met up with Lili and once again descended to the 7th and 8th Floors. Lili was quick to ask where I kept the Hestia Knife after I moved it from my back. I blatantly told her I was storing it under the Green Supporter vambrace – it wasn't like she could easily pickpocket it anymore and it just made it easy to keep track of Lili's attempts to manipulate me by drawing her attention to it.
Lili also seemed adverse to accepting advance payment and didn't insist on drawing up a work contract even when I brought it up. She only mentioned under her breath how it would likely just be more convenient for me.
'Oh well, I'll just have to spoil her with money.' I had resolved to myself then.
Because with Lili and her bag we could stay down and actually collect all the magic stones instead of my previous routine of stopping collection when I filled my bag and just continue on to slay monsters in order to grind excelia.
So sure enough by the end of the day, we somehow made…
"50,200 valis!" We screamed in excitement. I was making an average of 15,000 valis before my bag got too burdensome to bother collecting anymore stones. This was awesome!
"Amazing! Absolutely amazing! Lili could count all the drop items on her fingers, but Bell-sama easily passed 25,000 valis all by himself!"
"Is this for real? I'm not dreaming?! All of this money in one day…This is all thanks to you, Lili!"
Can you blame me for getting excited?! For someone like me, this is 'making bank'!
"You shouldn't say stupid things, Bell-sama," Lili cautioned, "It depends on the monsters, of course, but a party of five Level 1 adventurers usually makes 25,000 valis in a day. That means that Bell-sama did more work than all of them put together!"
"Hey, now. Even rabbits can climb trees if they're flattered enough. Same thing!" I said. It felt appropriate to use rabbit metaphors since everyone seemed to agree I was one. Might as well lean into it.
"Lili has no idea what Bell-sama is saying, but Lili agrees! Bell-sama is amazing! Let's do even better!"
Lili then sobered a little, "Okay, Bell-sama. Let's split the loot."
"Oh, of course!" I said, giving her one of the two bags of money. I had the teller split the total into two equal bags, "Fifty fifty! Haah, maybe I can get my goddess to eat proper food from now on with this kinda money! Speaking of, Lili, want to get something to eat?" Isn't it normal to eat together after work like this? I feel like that is a thing, or was that just Japanese culture and not Orarian?
"Eh? Eh!" Lili stammered before interrupting me, "Bell-sama!"
"Yes?" I asked innocently.
"Why are we splitting it evenly?" Lili asked me, honestly confused - I could tell, her eyes gave her away. "Aren't you going to try and take it all for yourself?"
"Eh? Why would I do that?" I ask her, "I would have only made a fraction of this on my own. The fact that we made this much is because of Lili's efforts."
"Ah!" I said as if drawing a conclusion, "You must think it's unfair because thanks to you, profit has gone up Two Hundred and Thirty-Four percent yet your cut is only Fifty percent. Sorry, that was greedy of me."
I put my money bag back on the table and move to open it, "Twenty, Eighty is probably more fair of a split. Just give me a second to calculate and count–!"
"BELL-SAMA!" Lili cried out, completely scandalized, "T-that–! That's not–! Are you an idiot?!"
"No, I mentally calculated my profit growth percentage just now," I say matter of factly, "My brain is clearly working."
Lili looked like she wanted to strangle me, "If word gets out Lili got eighty percent of an adventurer's profit, Lili will get lynched let alone find employment should we split ways!"
"Ah, I see, I forgot the circumstances of a supporter," I said, holding back my cheekiness, "I guess your only options are to work with me until you retire while earning an eighty percent cut or take that fifty percent cut you've got and sign a contract so I don't do something like give you sixty percent tomorrow."
"Sixty?!" Lili said, scandalized at just about everything I was saying at this point.
"Did I say sixty? I meant sixty-five," I said, not even bothering to hide my grin.
"Lili understands! Lili gets it!" Lili looked exasperated and just about completely done with trying to defeat my generosity, "Lili will sign a party contract, just stop with this perverse behavior!"
"How rude," I said jokingly, "The real perverse thing is this weird idea you have in your head that you shouldn't be properly compensated for the work you've done."
Lili looked up at me sharply.
I continued, "Without you, I would have had to not only fight with extra weight on my back but also settle with making a fraction of what we did today. Lili, supporters like you provide an invaluable service that makes adventurers' lives easier and more profitable. Anyone who doesn't see that is either stupid or greedy."
I could have gone on and explained that Lili deserved equal pay because she's a living sentient person (saying she is 'human' doesn't exactly work as an idiom). But she wouldn't have believed or understood me. She does, however, understand selfishness — of which I am employing an argument of selfish selflessness. 'By helping you, I am helping me' is essentially what I'm saying.
Lili looked at me for a long moment, her hatred filled eyes were waging an internal war inside her. She finally said, "...Bell-sama is weird."
"Lili is the one who is weird," I counter, "I've never seen anyone reject getting eighty percent of the loot."
"Bell-sama is the weirdo!" Lili vehemently stuck by her words, "Lili has never seen anyone negotiate themselves on the losing end of such an uneven split of profit! Does Bell-sama like living in poverty? Is Bell-sama a masochist?"
"I do not!" I reject both of those accusations, once AGAIN somehow being the straight-man in a comedy skit, "It's just you mentioned that you are having a tough time financially and I want to make sure you are okay, Lili."
"..." Lili looked away, in embarrassment or shame or both I couldn't say.
"So, on that note," I break the atmosphere, "I'll leave it to you to write up the contract, you are more knowledgeable on this sort of thing, after all. I'll see you tomorrow! Unless, you'd like me to safely escort you to your inn?"
"...Please don't embarrass Lili any further," Lili said after a moment, "Lili… will write it up and bring it tomorrow morning."
"I'll see you then!" I grin.
Ah, that was great. I've always wanted to bully someone with money like that. Feels amazing. Words cannot describe how confused, exasperated, and hopeful Kiki's face had twisted into.
Maybe… maybe I could save her. The spot were Liaris Freese was located on my back warmed affirmatively at the faith I had for myself.
The next day, I tell Hestia in the morning how I've gotten a supporter in the party. I don't explain much about Lili other than she is part of the Soma Familia, is a good girl, but in a bad situation. Hestia wasn't thrilled, but did like all the money I made. Of which I mentioned could be used to have a fancy dinner to celebrate.
Hestia got really excited after that and all but demanded we go on a date that very night. Mama Mia would kill me for asking off, but it was worth it since Hestia works so hard.
Of course, because things can never be that simple, we never got to enjoy that dinner as we were instantly interrupted at the meeting point by goddesses who overheard that Hestia was going out somewhere with a human.
It was… an experience. After almost getting mauled by lavacious goddesses, Hestia and I ran off for most of the night. Hestia was pretty disappointed, but it was kind of fun running away from all those ladies so it wasn't a total bust.
After that, Lili and I continued going into the Dungeon for a few days around the 7th to 8th Floors. I had successfully argued that Lili get half of our proceeds written down into the contract; to which Lili couldn't seem to agree on whether she should be happy about that or not based on her face twisted with suspicion and confusion.
Those couple of days, Lili didn't do or say anything too weird and even seemed to be relaxing ever so slightly around me. She even pulled out a magic knife that shot fire magic to help when I got swarmed by an uncomfortable amount of Killer Ants.
It had actually been the first magic weapon I'd ever seen, so I'd been a bit curious which made Lili cautious. She seemed surprised that I was only curious and in awe of magic and not envious of her tool. I'm not sure if, overall, I lost points with her or not.
She mentioned as we ate our lunch that day (as I ate my lunch, she almost died when I tried to share the lunch that Syr made me) that she needed tomorrow off for some kind of Familia meeting she had to go to (and because she was probably sick now). This was inconsistent with Soma being a hands-off deity, but could be explained by the captain adventurer of the Familia running the day to day things. Though, of course, that was assuming Lili was even going to attend. In any case, she did deserve some privacy so I didn't pry.
Even if I was vindicated by it, I did feel a little guilt at having Chloe spy on her on her first day with me.
The next morning, Syr had seemed curious that I apparently had the day off.
"Not going to the Dungeon today?" She asked me, noticing I hadn't gotten into my adventuring gear yet.
"Yeah, I've got some free time today." I tell her, "I could use a quick break from the Dungeon before getting back to the grind. What do you do on your days off, anyway?"
Whenever Syr took days off, she seemed to vanish from the face of the planet. Probably because it was Freya swapping places with Helun(?) but that was just an assumption.
"Let me think…" Syr pondered, "Reading, I guess."
"Not a bad idea," I said to her, "It's a shame I'm not a fan of the literature Hestia-sama likes."
Hestia's entire collection consists of really old romance novels and 'how to get rich quick' guides. No thanks.
"Well how about borrowing that?" Syr said, pointing over to a counter that had a book and a small plant.
"Modern Magic that Even a Goblin Could Understand… huh," I read the title of the book aloud, "What is this naming sense?"
"Interested?" Syr asked, "One of our customers left it here. Probably while you were gone. And it doesn't seem like he's coming back for it. I can lend it to you if you'd like."
"You sure?" I ask. It felt weird to borrow a book someone left behind in a pub. And why does this situation seem familiar? Whatever. It's a book on magic! It would be nice to go over the magic system in this world – especially since I'm not sure I remembered everything correctly.
"It's not like I'll be missing it," Syr said dismissively, "Just give it back when you're done."
"Sure thing," I assured her, and after a little small talk with the girls, I headed back to my room to give the book a gander. It would be a good idea to go over the magic system in case I have to deal with or work with magic casters.
I got comfortable on my bed and began to read the first chapter:
There are two types of Magic: innate and acquired. As the term "innate" suggests, this type of magic can be used by various races based on genetics. From ancient times, these races have had the potential to become magic users within them and are trained in magic at a young age through rituals. While the types of magic they can use are rather limited, the strength and scale of these spells are often very high.
This is likely a potential source of some of Ryuu's spells. Elves are famous for their magical prowess, after all.
Acquired magic refers to the possibility of Magic given to those people who receive "Falna," and appears on its own. With almost no restrictions, this kind of magic takes many different forms. The effect of the Magic depends heavily on excelia.
Hestia mentioned that Falna essentially hold one to three 'slots' for magic spells. Anyone with more spell slots usually has them from a skill, but that is rare. This is probably why Riveria of the Loki Familia is known for using many different spells, I reckon.(1 )
There were weird characters on the pages like hieroglyphs. It was enrapturing, I couldn't look away.
Magic is interest. This is a vital factor for all acquired magic. What holds your interest — what do you accept, hate, want, grieve for, worship, swear to, long for? The trigger is already within you. Your Falna will carve your soul into a blazing sun.
If you desire it, answer. If you desire it, break. If you desire it, focus! A terrible mirror of truth lies before you.
I… I could see a…
A…
Other POV
Syr, currently Freya in disguise, slunk into Bell's room. She resisted the urge to coo at Bell's unconscious expression. Instead, she looked at him with her Discerning Eye.
"Ah, so the transparent portion was sucked into the grimoire," Freya observed, "How curious. I wondered, with how closely tied those colors were, what would happen when you accessed a grimoire. It makes me glad I brought a second one with me. I want to see everything you have to offer, Bell-kun. Both sides of the coin that make up your unique existence."
She put the second grimoire in Bell's unconscious hands, and started turning the pages. Using a smidge of her Arcanum she tugged at the portion of Bell's soul, the void, and nudged it towards the grimoire.
She was stretching the limit of what was allowed in regards to using her Arcanum. In fact, this was in all likelihood a violation. But with how little was being used, no one would notice or care outside of this room. So Freya worked without concern.
For a moment, nothing happened. A fact that shocked Freya immensely, for despite using her divine power, this mortal soul refused to budge. Then all of a sudden, the void allowed Freya to guide it to the grimoire.
Freya, having formed a temporary bond, could somehow tell that Bell's soul was only letting her affect it because it could tell she had no ill will.
Fascinating. Amazing. Unprecedented.
What did this mean? What was happening? Freya was overwhelmed with so many questions and emotions. Freya fell in love again, this mortal was simply too much for her to bear. He was so interesting. So beautiful. Truly, truly this was her Odr!
Freya smiled happily, "Show me… show me just a sliver of what you truly are, Bell-kun…"
Bell POV
What is magic to me?
I don't know. But it's something great and mysterious. A finishing move to slay monsters. A mysterious power used by heroes to come back from near death.
Strong, fierce, merciless, overwhelming. What I've always wanted to have, just once. What I've been yearning for.
What is magic to me?
Power. Great power. A big weapon that will defeat my weak self. A grand weapon that will inspire my weak self. Not a noble shield to protect my allies, nor anything so elegant as a healing hand. A heroic power to clear away the obstacles in my path.
What kind of a thing is magic to me?
Thing? What kind of thing?
Fire. Magic has to be fire. It's the first thing I think of when I hear the word "magic." Strong, ferocious, hot.
Burn the plains, scatter the ash, scorch the air, envelop everything in waves of flame and heat haze, crimson tongues of flame nothing like my normal weakness.
Hotter than anything else, never going out… immortal flame. I want to become flame.
What do you seek in magic?
To become stronger, like her.
To become faster, like her.
To become wiser, like him.
Like light breaking through the clouds. Like lightning racing across the sky. More than anyone, more than anyone, more than anyone. Faster than anyone. Like her. To be in her sight.
Like him. To be able to understand as much as he does.
To help him. Help him find the strength that will steel his resolve.
That's all?
If I can. If I can. If I can.
I want to become a hero.
I have always wanted to be a hero, and like a fool I've pursued that dream. Just like the ones in the tales. A hero praised and loved by all. No matter how pathetic a fantasy, how vain and indignant, how miserably unsuited I am for it.
I want to become enough of a hero for her to notice me.
I want to become like the heroes that inspired him.
You're such a child.
…Sorry. But that's me, too.
The me inside the book smiles.
Then everything goes black.
Main POV
What is magic to me?
Magic is power, its energy. The ability to manipulate reality around us as we desire. From creating a simple flame to freezing water to warping space and time itself.
What is magic to me?
Power. Power to change the odds. To make the impossible, possible. Power to change the world.
What kind of thing is magic to me?
Thing? Mana, perhaps. It is the power to shape reality. Magic is power. The power to change everything. To manipulate reality to aid the user. Whether it be combating fierce monsters or more mundane tasks.
What do you seek in magic?
Power. The power to save others. The power to save myself. The power to save the ones I care about. I'm sick of being powerless, letting the future pass me by. Of being unable to do anything to right the wrongs of the world.
That's all?
…
Answer.
…I want to live up to their - to his expectations. I'd like to be their hero. I want to stand up for what I believe in. I want to be the one to stand up for what is right. I want to no longer be afraid of the future! I want to fight for a future! I want a place to belong! I no longer want to be the person who idly watches as others suffer around me!
I can handle being mocked by the masses. As long as those dear to me stand by my side. As long as I know I'm in the right.
That's why. Why I want the power to save myself and to save others. A power to save them…
That still makes you such a child.
I'm fine with that. Being an adult is overrated. That's just who I am.
The me inside the book smiles.
Then everything goes black.
Authors Notes
(1 ) Bell is remembering the canon magic system incorrectly. Riveria's magic works by adjusting her mana output and the length of the incantation to make one spell into three different versions. Despite being wrong, he ends up being kinda correct because in this universe, while spell slots are normally capped at 3 - a Skill can bypass this limitation. Which is why Lefiya is buffed in this universe, but we're getting ahead of ourselves.
Bell baits Lili into stealing his knife. Why? In case it wasn't clear, he does it to verify Lili's character is like the one he remembers from Canon. It was risky, with a chance of losing the Hestia Knife, but the information is worth the risk. And with Chloe following Lili, the risk was significantly mitigated. And while Bell isn't aware entirely about his protagonist luck, that was also a factor in everything moving smoothly. Why do you think he gets the Luck Development Ability in canon?
Bet you thought with a chapter quote like that I would actually share what magic Bell got. Or magics, rather. This is what happens when I'm forced to split a chapter into 2 – you get a cliffhanger! I'm not normally a fan of leaving a chapter off on a cliffhanger, but it was pretty close to halfway through what I had written, so it had to be done.
This is also a good place to talk about the mechanics of the protagonist's Falna. Since Bell essentially has two souls, it means that he is TWICE as likely to discover/unlock Skills and Magic. He also has twice the amount of natural spell slots (so he has six). He also, however, requires TWICE as much excelia to level his stats up. However, with Liaris Freese that con is negligible. Because both the protagonist's feelings, and the Original Bell's have an effect on Liaris Freese's strength.
Speaking of, we got to see some of Original Bell's consciousness. He's basically semi-conscious all the time, and can experience the protagonist's memories from BEFORE as the protagonist remembers/thinks of them like how the protagonist unlocks OG Bell's memories. In a way, Bell and the protagonist are slowly merging into a single 'person'. The main difference from this Original Bell from Canon Bell, is that this Bell fell into despair when Zeus 'died' - he would have been too devastated to go out and leave his village like Canon Bell. Thankfully, the protagonist arrived and is now steering the ship. The protagonist also reinvigorated OG Bell's spirit and desire for heroism; so tldr OG Bell is basically just vibing, because he, like the protagonist, view themselves as a single shared entity at this point.
Why does Hestia know none of this? Singularity is blocking her from viewing the memories that the Excelia would have otherwise shown her. So nothing related to how the protagonist is from Somewhere Else and Knows Things. It's probably really vexing. Poor Hestia.
Next time, part 2 to the Lili Arc!